Bailer with automatic discharge relief valve



w. J. FLURY sept. 15, 1936.

BAILER WITH AUTOMATIC DISCHARGE RELIEF VALVE Filed April 27, 1956 Patented Sept. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention hasto do in a. general way with oil well operations and is more` particularly related to bailers of the so-called suction or differential pressure type. As. is well known to those familiar with the art, dierential pressure bailers of this general. character are extensively used for the purpose of removing sand and other debris from the bottom ofV eil wells and embody a sand chamber and an air chamber separated by suitable valve means and adapted to be filled with pressure fluid from the well when the bailer engages the bottom thereof; Both of the chambers are lled with pressure fluid from the bottom of the well, the sandchamber being provided with a check valve to retain the fluid within the bailer and a discharge valve to permit its being unloaded at the surface of the ground. Y

It is a primaryobject of this invention to provide a telescoping` bailer of the'class described i which is of simple form and construction and which incorporates novel valve means for establishingA communication between the air chamber and the sand chamberv when the unit is telescoped at the bottom of a well, suchvalv'e being designed to automatically open when the discharge valve is opened whereby a compressed gas or pressure fluidy in the air chamber is effective to force the iluid from the sand chamber irrespective of any Vtelescoping movement between the bailer sections, thereby facilitating the unloading of the bailer. More specically, my invention contemplates the provision of a double purpose valve which is automaticallyV effective to elim nate the difficulties ordinarily encountered in dumping or unloading the bailer. This is accomplishedv by providing a downwardly opening valve within the bailer unit between the air chamber and the sand chamber, such valve being arranged so that it is normally closed whenever the unit is suspended (either empty or filled with pressure fluid) and at the same time is adapted to be automatically opened, with the bailer sections eX- tended, by the pressure in the air chamber when it becomes greater than the pressure in the sand chamber such as is occasioned when the discharge valve in the sand chamber is opened.

In this way I eliminate the necessity of employing latch means in conjunction withthe intermediate valve, such as have heretofore been 'used-to holdsuch valve in open position when the unit is being withdrawn from the well, and I provide a unit which can be unloaded independently of any movementl between the two members of a bailer of the telescopi-ng type. In other words, the unitcontemplated by thisinvention may be unloaded while it is' suspended from theline or cable or it may evenrbunloaded when it is in a substantially horizontal position.

It is a still further object ef this invention to provide a valve of the class described whieh will be immediately opened without any delayed movement whenever the telescoping sections of the bailer are collapsed; Y

The details' in the construction of certain preferred forms of my invention, together with other 10 objects Yattending its production will be best understood freni the fellowing description of the accompanying Adrawingl which are chosen for illustrative purposes only and in which;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation with partsbroken away 15 ing the bailer;

Fig. 4 is a plan section on the line 4 4 of'F'ig. 3.

More particularly describing the invention as herein illustrated, reference numeral Il indicates' a bailer which is formed of two telescoping members I.2 and I 3.. The upper or inner member I2 which may be termed the air chamber is provided with a cover cap I5 of. conventional type, such cap being provided with a ring or link member I6 to which suspending means such as. a cable IV'I may be attached. v

The bottom of the lower or outer member I3 is shown as being provided with a conventional inletrandV discharge shoe indicated by numeral I8 whichV is shown as having a bull nose. I9. and is equipped with an inwardly opening check Valve of the apper type indicated at 2U. The dis'- charge valve on this shoe` may be of any conventional type and isshown as comprising a sleeve 2| having ports 22 therein. The ports ,'22 are adapted for alignment with ports23' in the wall of thejshoe when the sleeve 22 is rotated.

The inner member I2 is shown as: having a section 52 of reduced diameter which extends downwardly through a bushing 53' and a packing gland 54 into theupper end of the outer member I3; The bushing 53` andthe packing gland` 54 are shownv as being entained aiitting- 55 which is threaded in the top of the member I3 asindicated at 56 and which provides a shoulder 51 within the member 5I at its upper end. This shoulder 51 is preferably formed With a Valve face and is adapted to be engaged by what I may term a valve or seal member 58 threaded on the lower end of the portion 52.

Mounted on the lower end of the portion 52 below the Valve member 58 is what I may term a cage member 59 which is ported as indicated at B0 and has downwardly extending legs 6| and 6| terminating in a cross member 62. This cross member 62 is provided with a central passage indicated at 63 through which a reduced end portion 64 on a valve stem 65 slidably extends.

The valve stem 65 has a shoulder 66 which bears against the bottom face of the cross meme ber 62 and is provided with a valve head 61 threaded thereon at its lower. end and locked in place by a lock nut 61. The Valve head 61 is adapted to engage a valve seat 69 formed in the outer member 5I below the ports 66 in the inner member. In this form of my invention the valve seat 69 is shown as being formed on the lower end of an intermediate section I3a in the member I3 which is threaded in a bottom section |317 as indicated at 1U. The upper end of the reduced portion 64 of the valve stem is shown as being threaded and is provided with a nut member 12, such nut being associated with a lock nut 13 held in place by a key 14 to hold the nut against rotation on the pin 64. A compression spring 15 is interposed between the bottom face of the nut member and the upper face of the cross member 62.

When the bailer of the type shown in this form of my invention is assembled, the reduced portion 52 is inserted through the bushing 53 and the packing gland 54 in the member 55. The valve member 58 is then installed and locked in place by means of the cage member 59. When this has `been accomplished, the valve member 58 is drawn up into tight engagement with the seat 51 and may be locked there by means of a suitable clamp or collet on the outer end of the section 52. .The valve stem 65 is inserted in the cage with the nuts 12 and 13 adjusted to place the spring 15 under the desired compression. The member 13a is then screwed in place on the member 55. When this has been done a spreading feeler (not shown) is inserted through the opening 11 which normally contains a screw plug 18, and this feeler is adjusted between the nut 12 and the bridge 62 so as to bring the shoulder 66 into tight engagement with the bridge 62. The valve 61 is then screwed onto the lower end of the stem 65 until it comes into tight pressure engagement with the seat 69. The feeler is then removed, the plug 18 is inserted and the valve assembly is ready for use. It will lbe observed that when a bailer with parts connected and adjusted as described above, is freely suspended the sealing faces 51 and 58 are in pressure engagement and the valve 61 is also in pressure engagement with its seat so that the air chamber which incorporates the member 52 and that portion of the outer member 5l which is above the seat 69, is positively sealed and isolated from the sand chamber.

When the unit arranged in this manner is lowered into the bottom of a well until the outer member engages the bottom, the downward movement of the upper member continues until the shoulder on the upper end of the section 52 engages the top of the bushing 53 at which time the parts occupy the relative positions shown in Fig. 3.

When this occurs it will be observed that the valve between the air chamber and the sand chamber has been opened and the great differential pressure which exists between the air chamber and the pressure uid in the bottom of the well lls the bailer with pressure fluid drawing sand and debris into the sand chamber and compresses the air in the upper end of the air chamber.

When the bailer is lifted from the Well after it has been filled with pressure fluid in this manner, the check valve in the bottom of the sand chamber or outer member supports the charge in the sand chamber and maintains it substantially under the pressure it had when forced in by the well pressure. The first action upon upward movement is to expand the two telescoping members and thereby close the valves 61-69 and 58-51.

When the unit has reached the surface of the ground the discharge valve corresponding to f valve 44-45 is opened, establishing communication between the sand chamber and the atmosphere thereby creating. a condition within the bailer in which the pressure in the sand chamber is greatly reduced as compared with the pressure in the air chamber. When this condition has been created, the pressure fluid in the air chamber depresses the valve 69 against the action of the spring 15 to the broken line position B shown in Fig. 2 thereby permitting the pressure iiuid in the air chamber to discharge or unload the` bailer. This relative movement of the Valve 69 with respect to its seat, is entirely automatic and is permitted even when the bailer is in a horizontal position or when the bailer is freely suspended with the parts in fully extended position since the weight of the outer member is carried on the inner member through the medium of the valve or nut 5B and its col operating shoulder 51.

The opening action of the valve when the two members are collapsed is effected through the medium of the shoulder 66 which is engaged by the lower end of the inner member, and in order that the valve may be immediately opened with a snap action, as soon as the bailer engages the bottom of the hole (that is, without any delayed movement when the units are collapsed) it is preferable that the distance between the face of the valve 61 and the shoulder 66 be such that the shoulder 66 engages the underface of the cross member 62 when the valve 61 is in pressure engagement with its seat and the valve or nut 53 is in pressure engagement with its corresponding seat 51. In the form of my invention described herein, this is accomplished by threading the valve on the stem and using a spreading tool between the nut 12 and the bridge 62 in the manner described above.

The air chamber of the bailer may be provided with a relief valve for controlling the pressure in the air chamber at any predetermined maximum value as the bailer is withdrawn from the well. This valve may be of any conventional type, one form of such valve being indicated by reference numeral Bl.

It is to be understood that while I have herein described and illustrated certain preferred forms of my invention that the invention is not limited to the precise details of construction described herein, but includes within its scope whatever changes fairly come within the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a bailer, the combination of: an upper aorte, me

tube.. member` lower Yi.neiluber teleseonf, eopueoted. id unbe roemloee boi/.ius o.

portee-team Peroni estendere tete the an ef,-

Sald low.; ember; a telve oeot. lo. the top.` pore tion. of the. member below tbeloottoto of. solo' upper extreem a, relive belowe 'o able. downward movement relatire to eaiuuooelmember.

moenteleeeooieelflr eooueeteo., eolel.- upper meheringo, eorteel, bottom. n extending the, too of seule lower toelaten;- e. veuve` eet lo the too RQOQ Qf the' 1QW1`m1b91 @910W *elle bQOm ot Salti upper member; o. valve below Saideeat. oeleotedfor. eoeeeeroeut. therewith te ferm. ain" hlmlffg and 3f Sld her Seli@ UPP?? member @nd Said 19W@ PQI." TSXPSQVBF When Sid. mebels @1f Xtnqed5 9e V'lv. en Said: velve bovine, lts upper euoeeeured iu,- tllebottom of Soloupoee member: for rleloeble downward movement elatire to Seid upper. lier and e.oooerettile Shoulder Ineens, ou e. ,o members above tue lower eue-ol.- Soid. upper roembl? adapted t9 mellgge Wll $.31@ members. ae- SuSPended for: SlltpQlng the' 1.9We1'- mgmt???- iri the Vupper member.;

e 3 In obeller, the eombluotioo oir upper tube ruerober ooo, e lowertube member telestpiclly @Onriecedr Sactu??? m4219961 halting. a ported bottom portion extending into the top of said lower rneyrnbeijva valve seat in the top portion of the lower member below the bottom of said upper member; a valve below said seat adapted for engagement therewith to form an air chamber and a sand chamber in said upper member and said lower member respectively when said members are extended; a valve stern on said valve having its upper end secured in the bottom of said upper member for yieldable downward movement relative to said upper member and cooperating annular shoulders on said members above the lower end of said upper member adapted to interengage when said members are suspended thereby forming a seal and a support for the lower member in the upper member.

4. In a bailer, the combination of: an upper tube member and a lower tube member telescopically connected, said upper member having a ported bottom portion extending into the top of said lower member; a valve seat in the top portion of the lower member below the bottom of said upper member; a valve below said seat adapted for engagement therewith lto form an air chamber and a sand chamber in said upper member and said lower member respectively when said members are extended; a valve stem on said valve having its upper end secured in the bottom of said upper member for yieldable downward movement relative to said upperV member; and a shoulder on said Valve stem normally engaged by the bottom of said upper member whereby said valve is depressed away from its seat when said members are collapsed. Y

5. In a bailer, the combination of: an upper tube member and a lower tube member telescopically connected, said upper member having a ported bottom portion extending into the top of said lower member; a valve seat in the top p0rotthelower ooeuobetV below bottom-ot l. uppermelubeti e' walre below. Said seat d. for eoeoeeuieuttberewitb tortorm eiroud. o Sano. `oleomeer lo Seid: uriner-meme. belli-aud 1d: lowermember-reeoeetiyelv when Said; e extended; evolve- Steiu 4seid` valve. e-uooer. eau secured; tetue bottom of; solo unneruterooer for yielsielele uowoword( more: meut relative to. seid. upper member.; .cooperat-l loa shoulder-means, ou ealemembers .obere the loweread of Seid, upper.- meiuberallee-114i'edtotn-4 tereueeeewloeo seid members. are eueeeoueotor euuoot lue the lower mein-ber u1 the. uppermeule ber. e shoulder, ou.. said; waltesteui normally enea fl ler tbe bottom of. Salo uppermember.- w-ll seid re-.lte eleoreesetlawayy from. ite Seat eaiel Ioeuiloere are collapsedorbailer. the oouioiuatioo otr upper.- tllbe member ood o. lower tube member teleseop: teu; a e, outue bottom. of VSaid leuter^ member. .upper eno of Seid lowerl member-i o. bride-e .-ee aoroee. the bottom of Said f a telve Stein. extending upwardly.- through blluee; tlueeoeo the. upper endet tweenr Salduut end.. Seid bridge; e valve seat in eeltilower memheroelowsolo ease: ooo valve, ou thelow-er end of; telve Stern loelowee-iu Seat, Seidvelre eelt-1s edanteo, to eueeee salu Yseat. when said members are extended.- f

beller-,1 the ooulloluetloo off: eo upper tube member.- ouele lewe.r tube. member teleseop: ieellyeonoeeteur'. o Cese ou, the bott-oxo. of eetdllpuel f (allouer-endet Sodlower member, e bruise oleo/e aereos, the bottom solo; ease; a tolte. Stern exteuoiue upwardlyturoueu bridge; e uut-threaded the upper end of: Salti. eten e. eemureeeioo oor-tue.- iuter-oeeeu befv tween said nut and said bridge; a valve seat in said lower member below said cage; a valve on the lower end of said valve stem below said seat, said valve being adapted to engage said seat when said members are extended; and a shoulder on said valve stem normally engaging the underside of said bridge when said valve engages said seat, whereby said valve is depressed away from said seat when said members are collapsed.

8. In a boiler, the combination of: an upper tube member and a lower tube member telescopically connected; a cage on the bottom of said upper member within the upper end of said lower member, a bridge piece across the bottom of said cage; a valve stem extending upwardly through said bridge; a nut threaded on the upper end of said stem; a compression spring interposed between said nut and said bridge; a valve seat in said lower member below said cage; a valve on the lower end of said valve stern below said seat,

etero: e Compression spr-lne interposed besaid valve being adapted to engage said seat when said members are extended, and cooperating shoulder means on said members above said cage adapted to interengage when said members are suspended for supporting the lower member in the upper member.

9. In a bailer the combination of: an upper tube member and a lower tube member telescopically connected; a cage on the bottom of said upper member within the upper end of said lower member; abridge piece across the bottom of said cage; a valve stem extending upwardly through said bridge; a nut threaded on the upper end of said stem; a compression spring interposed between said nut and said bridge; a valve seat in said lower member below said cage; a valve on the lower end of said valve stem below said seat, said valve being adapted to engage said seat when said members are extended; cooperating shoulder means on said members above said cage adapted to interengage when said members are suspended for supporting the lower member in the upper member; and a shoulder on said valve stem adapted to be engaged by the underside of said bridge, whereby said valve is depressed away from its seat when said members are collapsed.

10. In a bailer the combination of an upper tube member and a. lower tube member telescopically connected; a cage on the bottom of said upper member within the upper end of said lower member; a bridge piece across the bottom of said cage; a valve stem extending upwardly through said bridge; a nut threaded on the upper end of said stem; a compression spring interposed between saidnut and said bridge; a valve seat in said lower member below said cage; a valve on the lower end of said valve stem below said seat, said valve being adapted to engage said seat when said members are extended; cooperating shoulder means on said members above said cage adapted to interengage when said members are suspended for supporting the lower member in the upper member; and a shoulder on said valve stem normally engaging the underside of said bridge when said members are extended whereby said valve is forced away from its seat immediately when said members are collapsed.

11. In a bailer, the combination of: an upper tube member and a lower tube member telescopically connected, said upper 'member having a ported bottom portion extending itno the top of said lower member; a valve seat in the top portion of the lowerA member below the bottom of said upper member; a valve below said seat adapted for engagement therewith to form an air aosmev chamber and a sand chamber in said upper merri-Y ber and said lower member respectively when said members are extended; a valve stem on said valve having its upper end secured'in the bottom of said upper member for yieldable downward movement relative to said upper member; cooperating shoulder means on said members above the lower end of said upper member adapted to interengage when said members are suspended for supporting the lower member in the upper member; lO and a shoulder on said valve stem adapted to be engaged by the bottom of said upper member when said members are collapsed for depressing said valve away from its seat.

' 12. In a bailer, the combination of: an upper l5 tube member and a lower tube member telescopically connected, said upper member having a ported bottom portion-extending into the top of said lower member; a valve seat in the top portion of the llower member below the bottom of said 20 upper member; a valve below said seat adapted for engagement therewith to form an air chamber and a sand chamber in said upper member and Asaid lower member respectively when said members are extended; a valve stem on said valve 25 having its'upper vend secured in the bottom of saidI upper member for yieldable downward movement relative to said upper member; cooperating shoulder means on saidrmembers above the lower end of said upper member adapted to interengage 30 when said members are suspended for supporting the lower member in the upper member; and a shoulder on said valve stem normally engaged by the underside of said bridge when said members arc extended and adapted to force said valve away 35 from its'seat immediately when said members are collapsed.

WILLIAM J. FLURY. Y 

